Rockies & MLB

Renck: Rockies really could be competitve, with the right moves

Rockies manager Walt Weiss, left, watching relief pitcher Wilton Lopez, might need to be part chess grandmaster with the right moves to keep his team competitive. (Gregory Bull, The Associated Press)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — To mediocrity and beyond.

The Rockies have not adopted that as their motto this season. It is more buzz kill than Buzz Lightyear. There would be truth, however, in the advertising. After a 74-win season, the Rockies are viewed by many as an 81-win club, a prediction shared by fangraphs.com, an emotionless data cruncher.

I share this sentiment after a month of covering spring training. The Rockies are better than they were a season ago, with a best-case scenario mirroring a miracle run such as in 2007. Flirt with .500 until July, add a reliever at the deadline to get the payroll to $100 million and receive a caffeinated boost from young starters Eddie Butler and Jon Gray, much like rookies Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales provided in '07.

Unlike in the past two years, it's not impossible. One team, it seems, always overachieves in the National League West. The Rockies have good reason to think "Why not us?"

Well, there are reasonable explanations that it won't be the Rockies. The Rockies were a surprise in the season's first month last year and faded after the all-star break. But a poor start could be devastating this year given their schedule — 40 games in 42 days, with 19 in the division.

Here are some observations, illuminations and concerns eight days before the Rockies face Miami's Jose Fernandez on opening night:

• The Rockies' bullpen can't wait long on relief pitchers Matt Belisle and Wilton Lopez. One has to pitch well from the opening bell, or a move has to be made. The Rockies need to make sure Belisle is healthy and ready. Lopez has minor-league options, so the leash must be short. Chad Bettis and Chris Martin are potential replacements if Belisle and Lopez falter.

• Manager Walt Weiss must maximize his roster with mixes and matches. The idea of Wilin Rosario playing first base has been shelved, because he has not played an inning there this spring. If he's a catcher only, then Weiss has to move the chess pieces in the outfield. Corey Dickerson is a live wire. Getting him at-bats in right field while Michael Cuddyer is at first base should be an option. Charlie Blackmon is a better fielder and can hit. Drew Stubbs strikes out a lot. He also turns hits into outs with his glove. Stubbs should be platooned in center field. And, if the Rockies don't see a way to get playing time for Blackmon, trade him to Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, etc., at the end of spring.

• Be prepared to go bold with Butler. Assistant general manager Bill Geivett said Jhoulys Chacin (shoulder) is expected back in early May. That could be eight starts he misses. The Rockies can't waste those if Morales or Jordan Lyles is struggling. If Butler mauls Double-A hitters in April, talent like that has no timetable. Bring him up.

• The bench has to help much more. It was awful last year. With Troy Tulowitzki and Rosario among the starters requiring days off, the Rockies need serviceable production, not Triple-A replacements.

• First baseman Justin Morneau has shown he can hit this spring. But will his power return? If not, Nolan Arenado's breakout, all-star season could not come at a better time.

Footnote. Those who have seen the Rockies' rooftop addition rave about the seamless construction, saying it looks like it was part of the original stadium. It was built for the party crowd, and there's nothing wrong with that. There will be roughly 3,500 fewer seats at Coors Field, but the stadium has been oversized since 1998, when the sellout streak ended. For those upset about the construction project, it did not take away from the payroll, which came from a different fund.

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